49-48
Today has been the most random kind of day you could imagine. I wore a nice suit but it isn't new. Back last February when I wore it, it was tight. Today I was swimming in it. :)
Vanity aside, I sat in the Senate gallery as they finished debate and voted on the Marriage Protection Amendment. The vote was 49 yes and 48 no. Three Senators did not show. If they had I hear it would have been a split 50/50. So, not much in the way of real difference than a couple of years ago … even though 71% is the average approval rating of those states (20 so far) where state level marriage ammendments have passed. Alabamas amendment passed with 81% yesterday.
The thing I heard Senate democrats say that is the most bull-hockey I have heard in the debate so far is that the MPA would take away marriage from the states. They obviously need a 9th grade civics lesson. For an amendment to the constitution to make it, it has to pass with 2/3 of the Senate AND 2/3 of the House AND 3/4 of all the state legislatures have to ratify it.
The amendment process requires EVERY single state legislature to debate the amendment and say yes or no. I guess those Senators are expecting that "the people" don't know what's up with an amendment process.
Anyway, it failed this time around and technically only picked up the smallest of momentum.
Unabashed Tourist
Today, after the vote and lunch, a new friend and I went to the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History, saw an IMAX movie called Aliens of the Deep and Ford's Theatre where President Lincoln was assasinated. Of all the times I have been here I had never been to the Smithsonian or Ford's theatre. I loved the museum and the theatre made me sad. Not only because Lincoln was killed there but because it looked absolutely worn out. I would have thought they would have taken better care of it. I was also surprised at how small the theatre was.
Oh I almost forgot something crazy. Everytime I come to DC I seem to get in trouble for taking pictures where I am not supposed too. I am serious, I truly don't pull a rebellious attitude … I just don't think about it before I start taking pictures. I have been yelled at in the Senate building (on a previous trip), the Spy Museum and again today. I was standing outside taking pictures of a huge American Flag. It was really windy so I was taking lots of pictures from different angles in the hopes of capturing a good shot. A security guard came by and said, "How are you doing sir." I turned briefly, smiled and said, "Fine thank you… yourself?" he said, "good." I thought he was through so I turned and started taking more pictures. He said, "uh sir… what are you taking pictures of?" I looked a little incredulous and with a half confused look said, "well, the flag up there." He said, "you sure are taking a lot of pictures" and then I thought he was just being a jerk and said, "welllllll because it is whipping around and I hope to get a good shot." He said, "you bring suspicion to yourself by taking so many pictures."
At this point I was not a happy camper. Here I am in this gaudy bright orange plaid shirt, cargo shorts, sketchers acting like the only awestruck tourist with literally all the free information I could get out of the Smithsonian hanging out of my pockets with my camera pointing straight up in the air at the Flag. The guard himself was of Arab descent … not that that matters … I'm just sayin'. I thought about being a typical tourist and getting snippy but then I thought, eh… that's not my style and I don't think you want to mess with DC police anyway. So I said, "wellll then I guess I will stop taking pictures and move on." He nodded.
I walked around the corner and realized I was taking pictures of the Flag outside the Department of Justice building with the FBI building one block away.
I felt really really silly and very glad I didn't verbalize my inner snippiness … and moved on briskly.
Evening
Last night and tonight I had dinner meetings with local leaders and they were both really good meetings. I just got through working out (been faithful to keep exercising on this trip so far … this is a victory folks) and wanted to post this before turning in. You all have a great evening and I will try to post again tomorrow. We have some interviews to do tomorrow but overall it is kind of a down day before we ramp up for the Leaders meetings tomorrow night, Friday and the Love Won Out conference Saturday. Maybe I will head back to the Smithsonian tomorrow morning.
Question: Do you like Museums and why or why not? For those who like Museums, which ones have you been too and which ones are your favorites?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
What the Democrat said was the truth. The FMA would strip the states of their traditional right to individually set the terms for marriage. The feds would co-opt this right from the states.
I have to say I really enjoy contemporary art but LA’s museum dedicated to that is so small. There’s no permanent collection to speak of, it’s a constant string of special exhibitions.
As far as the ’states rights’ argument goes; didn’t the Democratic Senators mean that a constitutional amendment would take away states rights by forcing every state to use the same rule? As opposed to letting each state decide on its own whether to allow gay marriage or not?
You’re right Steve, this amendment would never be ratified by the legislatures of California, New York, Mass., Connecticut, Rhode Island, etc.
However, if it ever did pass, it would only take 38 other states to force their version of morality on the rest of the country. I have a feeling the federal version of this amendment is dead and everyone endorsing it knows this.
Time is definatly against the FMA crowd, polls show it, history shows it, common sense shows it but for now it drives up donations and gives them a hope of holding on to the power they enjoy at the moment.
I haven’t been to many museums, but my favorite is the Art Institute of Chicago. I think that I could visit there once a week and never really absorb all the beautiful art.